Cap with ear protectors connected by elastic



2 Sheets-Sheet l ATroRNEYs.

July 7, 1970 J. FEKETE CAP WITH EAR PROTECTORS CONNECTED BY ELASTIC Filed Nov. 22, 1968 July 7, 1970 J, EKETE 3,518,701

CA P WITH EAR PROTEGTORS CONNECTED BY ELASTIC f Filed Nov. 22, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O 3,518,701 CAP WITH EAR PROTECTORS CONNECTED BY ELASTIC Joseph Fekete, 501 N. 17th St., Richmond, Va. 23219 Filed Nov. 22, 1968, Ser. No. 778,122

Int. Cl. A421) 1/06 U.S. Cl. 2-172 2 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to headgear and more particularly to new and useful improvements in a cap for rnen and boys.

Caps for men and boys now in use are generally fitted with ear flaps for protecting the ears of the wearer. The ear aps has means for adjusting the combined length thereof for fitting different sized heads and for conforming to the shape of the head as the ear flaps are fastened to each other. In ordinary caps, such ear flap fastening means takes the form of complementary fixed snap 'button or slide buckle, or tied ribbon devices. -These devices are difficult to fasten and provide a limited adjustment of the combined length of the ear aps. Furthermore, such fastening means are inconvenient, troublesome and time consuming.

It is an important object of the instant invention to pro- Wide ear iiaps of a cap with built-in fastening means, whereby the liaps are effectively secured to each other and provide a fine adjustment of their length for permitting the cap to snugly lit different sized heads.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cap with ear iiaps fastenable under the chin of the wearer, the ear flaps contacting the chin when in operative position.

Another object of the invention is to provide ear flaps of a cap with fastening means that are self-adjusting, simple in construction, and economical to manufacture.

Various objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the followingy specication together with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cap embodying one form of the invention, the ear flaps being shown in operative position as they look when fastened under the chin of the wearer.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side view thereof, showing the ear aps in unfastened position.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. -4 is a detail perspective view of a fastening tape.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view thereof showing the ear flaps in depending unfastened position in full lines and showing the ear flaps in inoperative position in dash lines.

3,518,701 Patented July 7, 1970 ice FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view thereof with the peak in inoperative position.

Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawing, in FIG. 1, a cap, merely as an example of the invention, is illustrated embodying one form of the invention and designated generally as 12. The cap 12 comprises a crown portion 13 and has a visor 14. The crown portion comprises a plurality of fabric panels 16 secured to each other by seams 18. The inner surface of the crown may have a fabric lining 20. A fabric 'band 22 has one long edge secured to the outer edge of the lining 20 by a row of stitching 24. The other long edge of the band is secured to the bottom ends of the panels 16 by a row of stitching 25.

The visor 14 of the cap includes a crescent shaped cardboard body 26 with a top fabric cover 28 of the same material as the panels 16 and with a plain fabric cover 30 on the bottom thereof.

In accordance with the instant invention, a two-ply substantially rectangular panel 32 is shown around the sides and rear of the crown portion 13. The free ends of the panel 32 have extensions constituting ear flaps 34, 34. One ply of the panel 32, the outer ply 36 as viewed in FIG. 2, is formed of plain fabric material and the other inner ply 38 is formed with fur material, or other suitable material, the plies 36 and 38 being fastened together along their outer edges `by a row of stitching 40.

An important feature of the present invention is the means for fastening the ear flaps 34, 34 to each other so as to make them self-adjusting for fitting different sized heads. For this purpose, an elongated rectangular elastic tape 54 disposed between the inner and outer plies 36 and 38, respectively, of one of the ear aps 34.

At its inner end, the tape is fastened to the material of the panels 16 by the row of stitching 25. The other free end of the tape protrudes outwardly of the ear flap through an elongated eyelet 56 in the material of the outer ply 36 of the panel 32. The protruding end of the tape carries a female snap fastener element 58 for coacting with a male snap fastener element 60 embedded in the material of the outer ply 36 of the other ear ap.

In use, the cap 12 is placed on the head of the lwearer with the ear flaps 34, 34 in wrap-around position tied together by the tape 54. When it is desired to use the ear flaps 34, 34 the tape is unbuttoned from the snap fastener element 60 unfolded and draped over the neck and ears of the wearer. The end of the ear flaps 34, 34 are then brought together under the chin and snap fastener element 58 snapped over snap 60. The length of the tape 54 is such that a line adjustment of the overlap portion of the ear flaps is possible to permit the cap to snugly iit various sized heads. It will be noted that the material contacts the skin of the wearer so that the cap is comfortable to wear.

In the slight modification of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, inclusive, al1 of the parts are the same as described heretofore and the only difference is in the visor 14. In this form, the visor 14' is hingedly connected to the crown portion 13. Furthermore, the bottom surface 30 of the visor as viewed in FIG. 6 is lined with fur 62. A male snap fastener element 64 is secured on the top surface of the visor midway the ends thereof and a complementary female snap fastener element 66 is similarly secured on the crown portion 13 at the front thereof adapted to coact with fastener element 64 to hold the visor in upward inoperative position as shown in FIG. 8.

In use, the tape 54 can easily be stretched toward the male snap fastener element 60 and the female element 58 snapped thereover to hold the cap on the head of the wearer.

What is claimed is:

1. In acap, a crown portion, a visor secured radially from the front bottom edge of the crown portion, a panel secured to the bottom of the crown portion and extending around the crown potrion from end to end of the visor, ear flaps integral with the ends of the panel, one of said ear aps having an eyelet, an elongated elastic member anchored at one edge of the crown portion extending along the inside of said ear Hap and through said eyelet and outwardly thereof, said elastic member having a fastening member on the outer end thereof and a cooperating fastening member being provided on the other ear flap, whereby said elastic member may be stretched upon being fastened with the cooperating fastener member from the crown portion of the cap.

2. In a cap, crown portion and ear flaps depending from the opposite sides of the crown portion, an elongated elastic member anchored at one end to the edge of the crown portion adjacent to one of the ear flaps, means on the lower end of said one ear flap for guiding the elastic member on the same being stretched and for slidably joining the ear flap with the elastic member, said elastic member having a'fastening member on the outer end thereof and a cooperating fastening member on the other ear flap, said elastic member Ibeing stretched, upon the fastening of the elastic member with the cooperating fastening member on the other ear flap, from the crown portion of the cap to which it is anchored.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,455,667 5/ 1923 Schanzer 2---172l 2,743,454 5/ 1956 Woodbury 2-172 2,870,449 1/ 1959 Bailey 2-172 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner 

